Demountable wall panel, shelf and desk structure and connecting means therefor



y 1966 L. E. TASSELL 3,

DEMOUNTABLE WALL PANEL, SHELF AND DESK STRUCTURE AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 25, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Les/f2 5 70852 ATTORNEY.

May 10, 1966 Filed April 25, 1963 E. TASSELL DEMOUNTABLE WALL NEL, SHELF 3,250,584 N DESK STRUCTURE AND CONNECTING MEANS EREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Lew/f2 f. 70JJ@// A TTORNE Y.

United States Patent 3,250,584 DEMOUNTABLE WALL PANEL, SHELF AND DESK STRUCTURE AND CONNECTING MEANS THEREFOR Leslie E. Tassell, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Tassel] Industries, Inc, Grand Rapids, Mich a corporation of Delaware Filed Apr. 25, 1963, Ser. No. 275,629 9 Claims. (Cl. 312255) This application is a continuation-in-part and improvement of similar connections shown in my copending applications Serial No. 181,868, filed March 23, 1962, now Patent No. 3,143,981, and Serial No. 237,680, filed November 4, 1962, now Patent No. 3,178,775.

This invention relates to improvements in demountable wall panel, shelf and desk structure and connecting means therefor. The principal objects of this invention are:

First, to provide an improved form of supporting post and coacting clamps for securing wall and desk panels and shelves to supporting posts in adjustable securely fixed positions.

Second, to provide a novel form of shelf supporting bracket and post engaging clamp that have a wedging engagement with a post that increases the bracket supporting force as Weight is applied to the shelf.

Third, to provide a bracket to post connection with a wedge engagement, the holding force of which increases with tightening of the connecting bolt more than the frictional holding force of a correspondingly tightened fiat bolted connection.

Fourth, to provide a novel form of symmetrically slotted supporting post with bevelled edges on the sides of the slots exposed on both sides, with coacting novel connecting clips or brackets having bevelled edges coacting with the slots for selectively connecting panels and shelves to the posts and bar in infinitely variable positions and arrangevariety of arrangements.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and claims. The drawings, of which there are two sheets, illustrate a highly practical form of supporting post and the connecting elements for connecting panels and shelves to the posts and brackets.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an assembly of three posts of the invention with a shelf, partition panel, desk panel and cabinet connected thereto in a representative combination by the connecting elements of'the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal cross sectional view taken along the planes of the broken line 3-3 in FIG. 1 illustrating the connections between the posts and a shelf and a vertical partition panel.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevational view of the parts shown in FIG. 1 with parts broken away.

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the inner end of the shelf supporting bracket shown in FIGS. 1-4.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the inner side of one of the partition supporting or panel supporting clips shown in FIGS. 1, '3 and 5.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 77 in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 8-8 in FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIG. 9 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 9-9 in FIGS. 6 and 7.

from the outer edges of the rib sections.

ice

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 1010 in FIG. 1 and showing the connections between a post and partition panel and desk panel and cabinet.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary horizontal cross sectional view taken along the plane of the line 11-11 in FIG. l0.

FIGURES 1 and 2 show three identical posts 1, 2 and 3 located at the corners of a right triangle with the post 2 hidden behind post 1 in FIG. 1 and behind post 3 in FIG. 2. The posts have bases 4 that may rest freely 'upon a floor 5 or be secured thereto. Top fittings 6 may be yieldably urged into frictional engagement with a ceiling 7 or may be secured thereto. The posts 1 and 2 support a shelf 8 by means of brackets indicated in their entirety by numeral 9. A cabinet 10 is connected to the posts 2 and 3 by clips 11. Identical panel clips indicated at 12 support a panel shown at 13. A horizontal desk panel or table 14 is secured across the top of the cabinet as will be described.

The general arrangement of the posts, panels and shelves is an example only of a wide variety of possible assemblies and extensionsthereof. The invention lies in the cooperating cross sectional shape of the posts and the structure of the clamping or connecting fixtures for securing these parts to the posts.

The cross sectional shape of the posts 1, 2 and 3 are identical so that they can be extruded from a single die and cut to any desired length. The cross sectional shape of these parts appears most clearly in FIGS. 3 and 10 which show the members to be made up of an X-sha-ped central ribbed portion 16 with laterally extending side wall sections 17 projecting at right angles to each other The side walls in the example illustrated'merge in right angle corners forming a post which is square and symmetrical about two right angular axes but this specific cross sectional outline is not critical or essential to the invention although it is desirable in that it permits the panel and shelf connections to be made on any side of the post. The side wall portions terminate in inwardly beveled edges 18 forming longitudinal slots 19 which extend the full length of the extruded sections and provide inwardly facing clamp surfaces 20 on the inner sides of the side wall portions.

The structure and connection of the shelf Supporting bracket 9 to the side of the posts in any position is shown most clearly in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. The bracket consists of a relatively thin flat plate 21 conveniently formed as a sheet metal stamping and arranged in a vertical plane projecting laterally from the side of the post. The plate tapers to a thicker section at its inner end adjacent to the post and is connected to an upright clamping block 22 which may be conveniently formed as an aluminum extrusion and cut to length corresponding to the depth of the inner end of the bracket plate. The clamping block has a flat rear or inner surface 23 with outwardly beveled side edges 24 which are sized to mate with and abut against the outer portions of the beveled edges 18 on the side walls of the post. From the outer edges of the beveled faces 24 the cross section of the block is rounded outwardly to a flat outer face to provide a block of substantial thickness and strength. The face of the block 22 is punched or pierced to provide spaced upper and lower vertical connecting slots 25 and 26 desirablypositioned above the vertical center of the block with a hole 27 formed therebetween. A third vertical slot 28 is formed near the bottom of the block. The slots 25, 26 and 28 receive projecting connecting ears 29, 30 and 31 respectively formed on the inner end of the bracket plate 21. The ears 29 and 30 project inwardly through the slots 19 in the post and have divergent inner edges forming stop lugs for a purpose to be described. The upper ear 29 has an upwardly projecting shoulder that is staked or deformed securely over the inner face of the mounting block 22, as at 32, and the inner end of the lower ear 31 is also staked securely against the inner side of the mounting block as at 33. The substantial thickness of the mounting block coupled with the vertical spacing between the staked connections 32 and 33 provide an inexpensively formed but rigid connection between the bracket plate and the mounting block.

Opposite the outer end of the hole 27 in the mounting block the inner end of the bracket plate 21 is stamped to provide a T-shaped slot or opening 34 and a clamp screw having a knurled head 35 positioned with its head in the cross bar of the T slot and with its shank 36 extending through the stem of the slot and the hole 27 to project through one of the slots 19 in the side of the post section. An elongated nut 37 having rounded ends 38 is threaded on the inner end of the shank 36 and may be passed through the slot 19 when twisted to a vertical position. Rotation of the screw 35-36 causes the nut 37 to be drawn against the inner faces 20 of the side wall portion 17 with rotation of the nut being limited by engagement with the stop lugs 29 and 30 projecting through the slot. It is thus evident that the mounting block 22 and particularly the upper half thereof can be drawn into clamped wedging engagement with the beveled edges 18. Each increment of rotation of the screw applies a wedging engagement between the beveled surfaces which is greater then a simple fiat clamping action between two bolted parts. In addition the location of the screw 36 and clamp nut 37 at the upper end of the vertically elongated clamp bar results in a further tightening and wedging action between the clamp bar and the post when any weight is applied to the shelf 8 and the outer end of its supporting brackets 9 so that the brackets are particularly efiective in supporting the shelf at any selected position between any two posts.

The connection between the partition panel 13 and the posts 2 and 3 is more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 3 to 9. The vertical edges of the panel have screws 39 engaged therein with shoulders 40 on the screws locating the heads 41 of the screws in spaced relation to the edge of the panel with a short neck 42 between the shoulder and the head. The screw heads 41 and necks 42 coact with panel mounting clips 12 shown in detail in FIGS, 6 to 9. The clips are easily formed as stampings of good quality of relatively rigid sheet metal and are of vertically elongated channel shaped cross section with a center web portion 44 and laterally outwardly turned angled flanges 45, the angles of which mate and engage with the beveled edges 18 of the slots in the opposed faces of the supporting posts. At their lower ends the web portions 44 have rotation limiting lugs 46 struck inwardly in diverging relation on opposite sides of a screw hole 47. At their upper ends the web portions 43 of the panel clips are ofiset first inwardly of the posts as at 48 and then inclined outwardly as at 49 with an upwardly opening cam slot 50 formed in the inclined portion of the web.

In assembly of the panel clips to the sides of the posts, screws 51 are passed through the holes 47 and engaged with elongated clamp nuts 37 which can be identical to the previously described clamp nuts used with the shelf bracket.

The inclined portions 49 and the cam slots 51) easily engage behind the heads 41 of the screws 39 projecting from the edges of the partition panel and as the panel is driven downwardly the edges of the cam slots 50 draw the heads 41 inwardly into the channel section of the clips 43 until the edges of the panel 30 make abutting engagement with the side walls of the supporting posts. Desirably the partition panel 13 is thick enough to overlap the widest portion of the slot 19 but this is not essential.

The connection between the cabinet and the posts 2 and 3'appears most clearly in FIGS. 10* and 11. Elongated angle shaped connecting clips '11 which are same as clips 12 are secured in the opposed slots of posts 2 and 3 at vertically spaced positions so that the slots therein register with the heads and necks of screws 51 engaged or driven into the outer sides of cabinet side panels 52 and 53. The screws 51 are the same as screws 39. A bottom panel '54 is connected between the bottom edges of side panels 52 and 53 by any suitable type of cabinet connection such as the brackets 55 or screws or dowels 56. The desk panel 14 rests on top of the cabinet side walls and may be secured thereto by brackets 57. Doors 58 may bemounted on one or both sides of the cabinet by hinges 59.

When the box-like cabinet 10 and desk panel 114 are assembled with the screws 51 in place, the headset the screws are engaged behind the cam-med webs 49 of the clips with their necks 42 in the slots 50. Lowering the cabinet then pulls the side panels 5 2 and 53 snugly against the sides of the posts 2 and 3 and vice-versa as appears most clearly in FIG 11 with the collars 40 on the screws nesting within the channel section of the clips -11. The vertical spacing of the upper and lower clips 11 prevents tilting or rocking of the cabinet and the desk panel. I

While other arrangements of the several connecting clips and brackets may be used as desired in any of the selected positions or arrangements, the beveled edges 18 of the slots in the post sections coact with the mating beveled edges of the bracket mounting block or the panelconnecting clips to provide a secure wedging engagement between the parts which is easily assembled and tightened to provide a secure connection that will not loosen until purposely released for rearrangement or dismantling of the assembled parts. The wedging engagement common to all of the connections provides a more permanent antislip engagement than parallel opposed clamping surfaces and is at the same time adjustable to an infinite number of positions along the slots of the supporting posts.

The rotation limiting lugs or ears 46 on the panel mounting clips 12, and also 11, have a peculiar and specific coaction'with the transversely rounded ends of the clamp nuts 37. As appears most clearly from the dotted position of nut 37A in FIGS. 6 and 7 the clip and nut are applied to the post with the nut almost vertical to pass through the slot 19 in the post. The position of the nut axially on the screw and the relative rotation of the screw in the nut are indefinite and it is possible that the nut may turn with the screw. If the installer has not positioned the nut sufiiciently inwardly of the screw, or pushed the screw head 51 and clip well into the post, the nut may still be in the slot in which case he needs only to press in on the clip and screw and turn the screw in a loosening direction (clockwise in FIG. 6). This forces the nut inwardly of the slot until it clears the inner face 20. Upon clearing face 20 of the post the nut may turn with the screw in which case the broadly curved corners 371 strike the inwardly diverging stop ears 46 and cam the nuts further into interior of the post. This momentary free rotation followed by resistance is easily felt by the installer who then reverses the rotation of the screw. If the screw turns in the nut or the nut turns only slightly with the screw before engaging the inner face 29, the nut is in bridging relation to the slot and readily grips the post as the screw is tightened to clamp the clip in place. If the nut turns with the screw in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 6, the sharply curved corners 372 en gage the opposite sides of the ears 46 camrning the nuts inwardly while stopping their rotation in bridging relation to the slot so that the nut, screw and clip can be tightened in place. It will be noted that the ears 46 are angularly off-set in a clockwise direction relative to the hole 47 in FIG. 6 so that the broadly curved corners 37-1 strike the least ofi-set edges of the ears in loosening motion of the screw and nut while the sharply curved longer corners 371 strike the fiurtherest off-set edges on tightening rotation of the nut. In either case thebridging relation of the nut to the slot is assured and the clip cannot be fully seated in the slot without the nut being far enough into the post to bridge the slot in a clamping position. Once fully through the slot in the post, the nut must assume a slot bridging posit-ion on tightening of the screw.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a demountable wall panel, shelf, desk panel and cabinet assembly having at least three upright posts springably engaged between a floor and ceiling and disposed at the corners of a right triangle with an upright partition panel supported between two of said posts and a horizontal desk panel and cabinet supported between two of said posts and a shelf supported between two of said posts, said posts being square and symmetrical about two right angular axes, means releasably connecting said panels, cabinet and said shelf to said posts comprising,

ing opposed relation partially across the space bea from co-planar sides of two of said posts to support said shelf, mounting blocks secured to the inner ends of said brackets and having Spaced triangular stop ears formed on the inner ends of said brackets passed through slots provided therefor in the upper half of said blocks and projecting inwardly of said slots in said posts with divergent opposed edges,

the upper one of said stop ears' having a vertical edge portion staked against the inner side of its coacting block, I i

a lower connecting ear on said brackets spaced below said stop ears and projecting through a slot provided therefor in said block and staked to the inner side thereof,

a T-shaped slot formed in the inner end of said brackets and alined with a hole formed in said block between said stop ears, I

a screw having a knurled head positioned in the cross section of said T-shaped slot with its stem projecting through the alined hole and stem of T-slot, I

an elongated nut with rounded ends on the inner end of said screw limited against rotation by said stop ears and bearing against the inner sides of said side walls,

said mounting blocks having bevelled side edges mating with the bevelled edge of said slots in said posts and clamped thereagainst along their upper halves by said nuts,

wall panel clips secured to the opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the bevelled edges of the slots in the posts,

other stop lugs struck inwardly from the web portion of the lower ends of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

other screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls in non-rotating engagement with the stop lugs,

the upper ends of the web portions of said wall panel clips being downwardly and inwardly inclined in the slots of said last two posts and defining open topped cam slots,

and wall panels having screws engaged therewith with collars on the screws spacing the heads of the screws from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots to draw the edges of said wall panels against said last two posts,

one of said wall panels having the screws engaged in its end edges and being disposed transversely between said last two posts,

others of said wall panels having the screws engaged in their sides and being disposed in transverse relation alongside said last two posts, 7

said cabinet and desk panel being assembled on and supported by said other wall panels.

2. In a demountable wall panel, shelf, cabinet and desk panel having at least threeupright posts engaged between a floor and ceiling and disposed at the corners of a triangle with an upright partition panel supported between two of said posts and a horizontal desk panel supported between two of said posts and a shelf supported between two of said posts, said posts being square and symmetrical about two right angular axes, means releasably connecting said panels, cabinet and said shelf to said posts comprising,

X-shaped longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts,

side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

bevelled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in each side of said posts,

flat brackets arranged vertically on edge and projecting from co-planar sides of two of said posts to support said shelf,

mounting blocks secured to the inner ends of said brackets and having spaced triangular stop ears formed on the inner ends of said brackets passed through slots provided therefor in the upper half of said blocks and projecting inwardly of said slots in said posts with divergent opposed edges,

one of said stop ears having a vertical inner edge portion staked against the inner side of its coacting block, 1

a lower connecting ear on said brackets spaced below said stop ears and projecting through a slot provided therefor in said block and staked to the inner side thereof,

a T-shaped slot formed in the inner end of said brackets and alined with a hole formed in said block between said stop ears,

a screw having'a head positioned in the cross section of said T-shaped slot with its stem projecting through the alined hole and stem of said T-slot,

an elongated nut on the inner end of said screw limited against rotation by said stop ears and bearing against the inner sides of said side walls, I

said mounting blocks having bevelled side edges mating with the bevelled edge of said slots in said posts and clamped thereagainst along their upper halves by said nuts,

wall panel clips secured to the opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the bevelled edges of the slots in the posts,

other stop lugs struck inwardly from the web portion of one end of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

other screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls in non-rotating engagement with the stop lugs,

the other ends of the web portions of said wall panel clips being downwardly and inwardly inclined in the slots of said posts and defining open topped cam slots,

and wall panels having screws engaged therewith with collars on the screws spacing the heads of the screws from the panels,

the heads of said last screws =being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots to draw the edges of said wall panels against said last two posts,

one of said wall panels being disposed edgewise between two posts,

others of said wall panels having the'screws therein engaged with their sides and being disposed transversely of two opposed parts with said desk panel and cabinet connected therebetween.

3. In a demountable wall panel, shelf and desk panel assembly having at least two upright posts engaged between a floor and ceiling with an upright partition panel and a horizontal desk panel and a shelf supported between two of said posts, said posts being square and symmetrical about two right angular axes, means releasably connecting said panels and said shelf to said posts comprising,

radially projecting longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts,

side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in the sides of said posts,

flat brackets arranged vertically on edge and projecting from co-planar sides of two of said posts to support said shelf,

mounting blocks secured to the inner ends of said brackets and having spaced triangular stop ears positioned on the upper half of said blocks and projecting inwardly of said slots in said posts with divergent opposed edges,

an upper connecting car on the inner end of said bracket passed through a slot provided therefor in said blocks with a vertical inner edge portion staked against the inner side of its coacting block,

a lower connecting car on said brackets spaced below said stop ears and projecting through a slot provided therefor in said block and staked to the inner side thereof,

a T-shaped slot formed in the inner end of said brackets and alined with a hole formed in said block between said stop ears,

a screw having a head positioned in the cross section of said T-shaped slot with its stern projecting through the alined hole and the stern of said T-slot,

an elongated nut on the inner end of said screw limited against rotation by said stop ears and bearing against the inner sides of said side walls,

said mounting blocks having beveled side edges mating with the beveled edge of said slots in said posts and clamped thereagainst along their upper halves by said nuts,

wall panel clips secured to the opposed faces of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the beveled edges of the slots in the posts,

other stop lugs struck inwardly from the web portion of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

other screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls in non-rotating engagement with the stop lugs,

the web portions of said wall panel clips having downwardly and inwardly inclined portions in the slots of said posts and defining open topped carn slots,

and wall panels having screws engaged therewith with the heads of the screws spaced from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by ft the edges of the cam slots to draw the edges of said wall panels against said posts, one of said wall panels having the screws engaged in its edges and being disposed vertically edgewise between two posts, others of said wall panels having the screws engaged therewith in their sides and being disposed vertically and transverse to their supporting post and supporting said desk panel. 4. In a dernountable wall panel, and shelf assembly having at least two upright posts springably engaged between a floor and ceiling with an upright partition panel supported between two of said posts and a shelf supportedbetween two of said posts, said posts being rectangular and symmetrical about two right angular axes, means releas-- ably connecting said panel and said shelf to said posts comprising,

radiating longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts,

side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally at right angles in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

bevelled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in each side of said posts,

flat brackets arranged vertically on edge and projecting from co-planar sides of two of said posts to support said shelf,

mounting blocks secured to the inner ends of said brackets and having spaced triangular stop ears formed on the inner ends of said brackets passed through slots provided therefor in the upper half of said blocks and projecting inwardly of said slots in said posts with divergent opposed edges,

the upper one of said stop ears having a vertical inner edge portion staked against the inner side of its coacting block,

a lower connecting ear on said brackets spaced below said stop ears and projecting through a slot provided therefor in said block and staked to the inner side thereof,

a T-shaped slot formed in the inner end of said brackets and alined with a hole formed in said block between said stop ears,

a screw having a finger operated head positioned in the cross section of said T-shaped slot with its stem projecting through the alined hole and stem of said T-slot,

an elongated nut with rounded ends on the inner end of said screw limited against rotation by said stop ears and bearing against the inner sides of said side walls,

said mounting blocks having bevelled side edges mating with the bevelled edge of said slots in said posts and clamped thereagainst along their upper halves by said nuts,

wall panel clips secured to the opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the bevelled edges of the slots in the posts,

other stop lugs struck inwardly from the Web portion of the lower ends of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

other screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side Walls in non-rotating engagement with the stop lugs,

the upper ends of the web portions of said wall panel clips being downwardly and inwardly inclined in the slots of said last two posts and defining open topped cam slots,

and a wall panel having screws engaged in its end edges with collars on the screws spacing the heads of the screws from the panels, I

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots to draw the edges of said wall panel against said last two posts.

5. In a demountable Wall panel, and shelf assembly having at least two upright posts engaged between a floor and ceiling with an upright partition panel supported by at least one of said posts and a shelf supported between two of said posts, means releasably connecting said panel and said shelf to said posts comprising,

radiating longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts,

side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered slots in plural sides of said posts,

flat brackets arranged vertically on edge and projecting from sides of two of said posts to support said shelf,

mounting blocks secured to the inner ends of said brackets and having vertically spaced ears formed on the inner ends of said brackets passed through slots provided therefor in the said blocks and having an inner edge portion of the ears staked against the inner side of its coacting block,

a screw hole formed through the block,

a slot formed in the inner end of said brackets and alined with said hole,

a screw having a clamping head positioned in said slot with its stem projecting through the alined hole and cooperating with said mounting block to clamp said block against said side Walls,

said mounting blocks having beveled side edges mating with the beveled edge of said slots in said posts,

wall panel clips secured to opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the beveled edges of the slots in the posts and a screw hole formed in the web of the channel section,

other screws passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and cooperating with the panel clips to clamp the clips to the sides of the side walls,

the web portions of said wall panel clips having downwardly and inwardly inclined portions in the slots of seid last two posts and defining open topped cam s ots,

and a wall panel having screws engaged therewith at vertically spaced points with the heads of the screws spaced from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the post by the edges of the cam slots. 6. In a demountable wall panel and desk panel assembly having at least two upright posts springably engaged between a floor and ceiling with an upright partition panel and a horizontal desk panel supported between two of said posts, said posts being rectangular and symmetrical about two right angular axes, means releasably connecting said panels to said posts comprising,

radiating longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts, I

side wallsformed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally at right angles in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in each side of said posts,

wall panel clips secured to opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the beveled edges of the slots in the posts,

stop lugs struck inwardly from the web portion of the lower ends of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls,

the upper ends of the web portions of said wall panel clips being downwardly and inwardly inclined in the slots of said posts and defining open topped cam slots,

and wall panels having screws engaged therewith with collars on the screws spacing the heads of the screws from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots to draw said wall panels against said posts,

one of said wall panels having the screws engaged therewith located in its edges and being supported at opposite edges from two posts,

others of said wall panels being individually connected by said panel clips to separate posts and supporting said desk panel from the other wall panels.

7. In a demountable wall panel and desk panel assembly having at least two upright posts engaged between a floor and ceiling with an upright partition panel and a horizontaldesk panel supported between two of said posts, means releasably connecting said panels to said posts comprising,

radiating longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts, side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in plural sides of said posts,

wall panel clips secured to opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the beveled edges of the slots in the posts,

stop lugs struck inwardly from the web portion of said wall panel clips with screw holes formed therebetween,

screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls in non-rotating engagement with the stop lugs,

the web portions of said wall panel clips having downwardly and inwardly inclined portions in the slots of said posts and defining open topped cam slots,

a wall panel having screws engaged therewith with the heads of the screws spaced from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots, said partition panel having the screws engaged therewith mounted in the edges of said one panel with the panel supported from panel clips on spaced posts,

said wall panels having the screws engaged therewith located in their sides and being supported from panel clips on a single post,

said desk panel being supported from the tops of said other panels and further supporting said partition panel.

8. In a demountable cabinet and desk panel assembly having at least two upright posts engaged between a floor and ceiling with a cabinet and a horizontal desk panel supported between two of said posts, means releasably connecting said cabinet and panel to said posts comprising,

radiating longitudinal center ribs within the cross sectional outline of said posts,

side walls formed integrally on the outer edges of said ribs and extending laterally in projecting opposed relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

7 beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in plural sides of said posts,

wall panel clips secured to opposed faces of two of said posts and having channel shaped cross sections with angled side flanges mating with the beveled edges of the slots in the posts,

screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed through the holes in said wall panel clips and clamping the nuts to the inner sides of the side walls,

the web portions of said wall panel clips having downwardly and inwardly inclined portions in the slots of said posts and defining open topped earn slots,

and wall panels having screws engaged in their sides with the heads of the screws spaced from the panels,

the heads of said last screws being supportingly received in said cam slots and drawn inwardly of the posts by the edges of the cam slots,

said cabinet and said desk panel being assembled on and supported by said wall panels.

9. In a dernountable panel assembly having at least relation partially across the space between said ribs and longitudinally along said posts,

beveled edges on the opposed edges of said side walls forming continuous tapered outwardly widening slots in each side of said posts,

panel attaching clips of channel shaped cross section with angled side flanges mating with the edges of the slots in said posts,

screws with elongated nuts on their inner ends passed inwardly through holes formed in the web portion of said clips and having elongated nuts on their inner ends clamping said clips to side walls of said posts,

stop lugs struck inwardly from said clips and diverging from opposite sides of said holes in intercepting relation to said nuts,

inwardly and downwardly inclined cam portions in the webs of said clips having open topped slots formed therein,

and headed screws engaged at vertically spaced points with said panel with the heads of screws spaced from the panel at opposite ends thereof.

said headed screws having their heads received in the cam slots of said clips to draw the adjacent part of the panel against side walls of said posts.

References Cited by the Examiner Nelson 312-ll1 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner. 

8. IN A DEMOUNTABLE CABINET AND DESK PANEL ASSEMBLY HAVING AT LEAST TWO UPRIGHT POSTS ENGAGED BETWEEN A FLOOR AND CEILING WITH A CABINET AND A HORIZONTAL DESK PANEL SUPPORTED BETWEEN TWO OF SAID POSTS, MEANS RELEASABLY CONNECTING SAID CABINET AND PANEL TO SAID POSTS COMPRISING, RADIATING LONGITUDINAL CENTER RIBS WITHIN THE CROSS SECTIONAL OUTLINE OF SAID POSTS, SIDE WALLS FORMED INTEGRALLY ON THE OUTER EDGES OF SAID RIBS AND EXTENDING LATERALLY IN PROJECTING OPPOSED RELATION PARTIALLY ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN SAID RIBS AND LONGITUDINALLY ALONG SAID POSTS, BEVELED EDGES ON THE OPPOSED EDGES OF SAID SIDE WALLS FORMING CONTINUOUS TAPERED OUTWARDLY WIDENING SLOTS IN PLURAL SIDES OF SAID POSTS, WALL PANEL CLIPS SECURED TO OPPOSED FACES OF TWO OF SAID POSTS AND HAVING CHANNEL SHAPED CROSS SECTIONS WITH ANGLED SIDE FLANGES MATING WITH THE BEVELED EDGES OF THE SLOTS IN THE POSTS, SCREWS WITH ELONGATED NUTS ON THEIR INNER ENDS PASSED THROUGH THE HOLES IN SAID WALL PANEL CLIPS AND CLAMPING THE NUTS TO THE INNER SIDES OF THE SIDE WALLS, THE WEB PORTIONS OF SAID WALL PANEL CLIPS HAVING DOWNWARDLY AND INWARDLY INCLINED PORTIONS IN THE SLOTS OF SAID POSTS AND DEFINING OPEN TOPPED CAM SLOTS, AND WALL PANELS HAVING SCREWS ENGAGED IN THEIR SIDES WITH THE HEADS OF THE SCREWS SPACED FROM THE PANELS, THE HEADS OF SAID LAST SCREWS BEING SUPPORTINGLY RECEIVED IN SAID CAM SLOTS AND DRAWN INWARDLY OF THE POSTS BY THE EDGES OF THE CAM SLOTS, SAID CABINET AND SAID DESK PANEL BEING ASSEMBLED ON AND SUPPORTED BY SAID WALL PANELS. 